Dear FTC member
Your tennis committee hopes you are keeping well and that you have been able to get a game in. This note is an update of where we are up to with regard to resuming club activities at Fishbourne, as of 7 July 2020. As we have done since the start of the Covid pandemic, everything the club has put in place has been consistent with government and LTA guidelines. We are constantly monitoring updates so that we can respond as soon as we are able.
Club sessions: the LTA continues to advise that mix-in club sessions do not proceed at this time and we will follow that advice. Rest assured we will change that as soon as we are able to. We have some excellent ideas for new tennis formats, including mini American tournaments, and they are in the pipeline for when we get the green light.
Clubhouse: is remaining closed. Floodlights are working correctly and available for members’ use only, turned on and off from the public switch box outside the clubhouse (the code will be in your booking acknowledgement).
Court 3: is now open and able to be booked by members. Players on courts 3 and 4 may wish to ensure their balls are clearly marked so they do not get mixed up.
Who can play: we are keeping the club for members only, but members are now allowed to play with guests (on payment of the normal guest fee). The period of grace for non payment of subs is now over and in order to access courts all members must have paid for 2020/21. Don’t forget, 2020/21 members will receive some form of discount for the 2021/22 season. We are not taking public bookings currently. Although this is a useful income for the club, it is important that we continue to be in full control of court users.
What we can play: singles and doubles, men’s, ladies’ or mixed are all allowed, with family or with friends from outside your household. Bear in mind that any “bubble” of people can not exceed six people if from different households.
Balls: club balls remain unavailable so please bring your own.
Accessing courts: courts must continue to be booked online prior to play. There is no limit on court time but we ask that members are mindful of demand for courts from other members, particularly at busy times. We also ask that if a court booking is made but cannot be fulfilled it is cancelled as soon as possible.
Finding players: join a WhatsApp group: several groups are now up and running and proving very useful in helping members arrange games. Join a ladder competition: the club has set up both men’s and ladies’ singles ladder competitions; they are open to players of all ages and abilities. A mixed doubles ladder competition is in the pipeline, but please find a partner before applying. Please contact Jazz at [email protected] if you are interested in any of the existing groups or starting a mixed doubles ladder.
Contact a member direct: email addresses and phone numbers for all members are available from membership secretary, Ivor.
Coaching: all group coaching sessions with Generation Tennis remain on hold but Alex is available for one-to-one coaching sessions. Contact Alex on 07746 408 181 or at [email protected] .
Public health advice: all advice re social distancing, avoiding congregating in groups, the wearing of gloves and masks, hand washing and the use of sanitiser must be followed at all times. Every court has been provided with 70pc alcohol hand sanitiser for members’ use.
Fishbourne Centre: the loos are open and cleaned every day but hand washing before and after use is essential. The Fishbourne Centre bar is now open, from 5.30 weekdays and from 12.00 Saturday and Sunday, for drinks only, no food. A one way system is in operation, enter only by the side door and exit through the Blue Room on to the new Wimbledon Bar terrace.
Good luck, keep well, and hit some balls! Any questions or suggestions please email [email protected]
With best wishes from your committee: Pammi, Kate, Nicola, Bryan, Ivor, David, Jazz and Bob.
